Test Pressing [Level 2]
IT IS THE 5OTH ANNIVERSARY OF ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL RECORD COMPANIES/LABELS OF ALL TIME MOTOWN, THERE HAS BEEN DISPUTE ABOUT WHAT SONGS & ALBUMS EVER RELEASED BY MOTOWN IN THE USA.
DOES ANYONE KNOW
a) THE TOP 50 BEST SELLING MOTOWN SINGLES
b) THE TOP 50 BEST SELLING MOTOWN ALBUMS
THIS WILL CERTAINLY HELP CLEAR MY CURIOSITY OF WHAT MOTOWN HAS HAD HITS WITH IN ITS 50 YEARS
Underground Hit [Level 5]
If you ever get the chance, check out The Temptations - Mellow Mood album. It was recorded back in the 60's when David Ruffiin was still with the group. To me, it's their best album ever. Truly a classic!!!'NUFF SAID
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
There's no way to really know, since in the label's heyday, they were suspected of overstating sales for publicity. Berry Gordy refused to allow the RIAA access to his accounting books and this was obviously way before Soundscan, so relatively few Motown records were certified gold by the RIAA back in the day.
Chart Hit [Level 6]
I've read many many times that Motown's biggest selling album has always been Lionel Richie's "Can't Slow Down" (I think the last sales figure I read was 11 million) but it's always fascinated me that Motown's 2 most influential (without QUESTION) and popular albums (Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the Key of Life" and Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On?") were two of the earliest of the Motown releases to break away from the label's trademark sound and that would probably be because the artists produced them alone. Motown's singles would come and go so quickly that I'm not surprised sales figures are unavailable or inaccurate but I'm guessing that the two I still hear quite often, "Ooh Baby Baby" and "My Girl" would be right up there among the best selling. 12/1/2009
Underground Hit [Level 5]
Coming from "Billboard's Hottest Hot 100 Hits" book here are the top Motown single releases thru the years:
1 - I'LL MAKE LOVE TO YOU - BOYZ II MEN
2 - END OF THE ROAD - BOYZ II MEN
3 - ON BENDED KNEE - BOYZ II MEN
4 - ENDLESS LOVE - DIANA ROSS & LIONEL RICHIE
5 - BACK AT ONE - BRIAN McKNIGHT
6 - I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE - MARVIN GAYE
7 - I'LL BE THERE - JACKSON 5
8 - ALL NIGHT LONG - LIONEL RICHIE
9 - UPSIDE DOWN - DIANA ROSS
10 - THREE TIMES A LADY - COMMODORES
11 - LET'S GET IT ON - MARVIN GAYE
12 - SAY YOU SAY ME - LIONEL RICHIE
13 - LOVE CHILD - DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES
14 - HELLO - LIONEL RICHIE
15 - I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU - STEVIE WONDER
16 - IT'S SO HARD TO SAY GOODBYE - BOYZ II MEN
17 - ABC - JACKSON 5
18 - WHERE MY GIRLS AT - 702
19 - 4 SEASONS OF LONLINESS - BOYZ II MEN
20 - WAR - EDWIN STARR
21 - WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO - THE SUPREMES
22 - BEING WITH YOU - SMOKEY ROBINSON
23 - I LOVE YOUR SMILE - SHANICE
24 - AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH - DIANA ROSS
25 - I CAN'T HELP MYSELF - FOUR TOPS
Now these ranking by Billboard are based on their weekly charts, which is based on sales AND radio play.
So no way is it telling us which was the best seller or best song.
Can you believe Shanice ahead of Ms. Ross' "Ain't No Mountain"???
5 Boyz II Men songs in the Top 25 including the Top 3???
5 Lionel Richie songs and only 1 Stevie Wonder and only 2 Marvin Gaye songs in the Top 25????
I want a recount!!!!:icon_confused:
Gold Record [Level 7]
it seems strange that berry would overstate sales cos he didnt like the man from the IRS also, hence so many u.s labels, more companies to state a loss, another sales confuser was retailers were offered albums at 6 for 5 i.e buy 5 get one freeOriginally Written by BrunoRepublic
Chart Hit [Level 6]
. 
. 
doesn't surprise me one bit that Berry Gordy may be "fuzzy" with details about sales (or other things) since several former Motown acts, including Teena Marie, the Jackson 5, Gladys Knight and the Pips and others have implied that their unhappiness with the label was related to their dealings with Gordy. The Isley Brothers, on the other hand, pointed the finger of unhappiness at Holland Dozier Holland! 12/4/2009
Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks